Medical Cannabis Continues to Gain Popularity

Voters in Missouri and Utah have approved medical cannabis propositions—as voters continue to demonstrate a willingness to consider cannabis as a medical alternative.

Voters in Utah—one of the most conservative states in the union—narrowly approved the ballot issue although a compromise apparently had been reached before the vote, so it should help efforts by legalization supporters to hold lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert (R) to follow through on their pledge to enact patient access in a special legislative session before the end of the year.

In Missouri, it was a constitutional amendment to allow medical cannabis, which passed by a margin of 66 percent to 34 percent.

Under the new law, qualified patients who have approval from their physicians will receive identification cards from the state that will allow them and their registered caregivers to grow up to six marijuana plants and purchase at least four ounces of cannabis from dispensaries on a monthly basis.

Doctors will be able to recommend medical cannabis for any condition they see fit; there is no specific list of qualifying disorders, so it should be available for chronic pain patients.

Additionally, the state regulators will issue licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries, as well as cultivation, testing and infused product manufacturing businesses.

“Thanks to the unflagging efforts of patients and advocates, Missourians who could benefit from medical marijuana will soon be able to use it without fear of being treated like criminals,” Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), said. “We hope lawmakers will implement the measure efficiently and effectively to ensure qualified patients can gain access to them Regardless of the result, however, legal medical marijuana in the state was a near certainty after both proponents and opponents of the ballot initiative came together last month in support of a plan to enact compromise legislation allowing patients to use cannabis.

33 states now approve the use of medical cannabis. California was the first to approve it 22 years ago.

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One problem : Cultures in our past relied on plants for health giving, health restoration and maintenance which evolved with ceremony.
Emotional neediness is not a reason to reach for health giving, health restoration and maintenance from plants.
Stop the personal and communal insanity.
Open up your own ‘can of common sense’ about ceremony, plants and life.
Prayer and meditation Up!

6 months ago

Etowah

I wish Georgia would get on the wagon with medical marijuana! The state legislature legalized a pill with a maximum of 5% THC but with an equal amount of CDB which pretty much neutralizes the effects of the THC. (It seems to me that one of the major ways marijuana helps with pain is that it is a distraction, THC does that).
So then last year the GA Senate decided they needed to drop the THC content to a 3% maximum 🙄.
On top of all this mess is the list of ailments it can be used for is very short, chronic pain is not one of them.
If that isn’t enough they have not made it legal to grow in GA… so you can get a prescription and a card but you cannot legally buy it because neither can it be legally imported across state lines.
So we can get it in an ineffective form, not for pain, but not legally… though they claim to have legalized it. You can still but an assortment of rolling papers, bongs, and other paraphernalia in every little town. It is everywhere but still they act so stupid. Of course, in GA you cannot be on pain management and use MJ. The state mandates quarterly urine tests and they will not overlook THC positive, as is suggested by the CDC. I’ve never seen anything twisted into such a knot in order to not do something they say they are doing. Apparently it is evil to take something that makes you feel better. It’s ok to kill pain but not ok if it also makes you feel better. I really don’t understand this thinking and I’m sure they would deny it but it is apparent that feeling better is considered to be an evil objective.. even though one of our basic rights is the “pursuit of happiness”. Go figure…
ET

6 months ago

Judy

The problem is MOST doctors know little or nothing about medical cannabis!!!

6 months ago

Elizabeth Magobet-Rodriguez

Medical Marijuana is not beneficial for everyone nor are narcotics! I have a poor quality of life as I suffer from nerve pain from my cervical spine to the lumbar. Over 14 years ago I was given a series of three Botox injections for my Cervical Radiculitis which causes excrutiating nerve pain and creates migraine headaches, facial and jaw pain to the point that you feel you want to take your life. Why is it so difficult to address each patient separately based on what condition they have and the best way to treat them. I hate narcotics they are not for everyone and certainly not for me. Those pills make me sick to my stomach and the lowest dose of 5mg my system doesn’t tolerate it and it only helps with the pain for about two hours. I refuse to take that poison. I have been in and out of physical therapy for four years and to orthopedics. Rothmann Institute is the worst now I have a Rehab specialist who knows I don’t want a prescription for pain killers handed to me so she referred me to pain management were I know my issue can be resolved and give me some relief as I can not tolerate any more pain and over the counter anti inflammatory medicine is what I have tried due to having cardiac conditions. Anti inflammatory meds are off limits. I am also not a candidate for medical marijuana. I have done everything they have asked, physical therapy, 60 pills of 5mg of generic vicodin last more than a year because they may help my migraine headaches somewhat but they don’t get to the source of my pain. I need the series of Botox injections. I am disabled and I pay for all of my health insurance but I am not getting the service I require. HELP

6 months ago

Bill H.

How thrilling for them! We have had the MMJ for a few years now (Arizona) and has helped so many people including me. Although I still need the opiates, by smoking the marijuana has reduced the number of pills I take daily. In the FaceBook group that I am in pertaining to Fibromyalgia, the majority of the members who live in states where it is legal has been a life saver for many. Sadly some receive no benefit however they are happy that it has become legal as it does help others.

6 months ago

Susan

I’m all for decriminalization of ALL substances, and the lessening restrictions on cannabis is a good start. Cheers to Utah for its brief unclenching…as a long-time Church member, I’m happy that the Church’s leadership is listening to us down here in the trenches.

My husband uses cannabis along with his (much decreased) pain regimen, which includes opiates, clonazapam, and sundry muscle relaxers. He uses both high-potency CBD alone, as well as high-THC herb. The CBD seems to have relaxing effects, and he thinks it makes his other meds work better. The THC has been critical to help him sleep, a problem which has plagued him throughout his entire life.

Yes, people still smoke pot, but more and more are choosing to use vaporizers, and the technology has really come into its own. Another option is edibles (my husband’s preferred method of ingestion).

While cannabis does not have the same pain-relieving properties as opiates, what appeals to me the most is the freedom to self-dose. EVERYTHING should be that way. And while cannabis IS expensive, most of the price is due to taxes and licensing costs; the plant itself is not difficult to grow and is abundant. The price can be blamed on the government.

As of yet there are no panaceas. However, cannabis is another fairly safe, fairly effective tool in our toolbox, and I’ll take it, happily.

6 months ago

Karen

I really wish Texas would give our doctors the freedom to prescribe MMJ for whatever condition(s) they see fit. I have CRPS, Fibromyalgia, CFS, RA, Sjogrens and Raynaud’s, yet my Dr cannot prescribe it for me. Instead, my opioids continue to get tapered and my quality of life continues to decline

6 months ago

Rochelle

I just read two scientific articles on medical and recreational cannibis, the mode of consumption with or without the psychoactive THC. The pro cannabis supporters have been very successful on expounding how great cannabis is when in reality its really not that great. Smoking definitely can cause problems. One may not die from an overdose although there have been a few rare cases where it did. It can kill indirectly from cardio-pulmonary problems and studies have shown one in ten can become addicted.

Like most things that sound too good to be true, cannabis is just that. What will happen is it will become widely accepted and then the side effects from smoking will appear along with others and cannibis will be found to be not so great, kinda like alcohol and tobacco consumption and by then it will be too late, as usual.

6 months ago

Lila

Some of us chronic pain individuals cant afford medical marijuana. So it doesnt matter.

6 months ago

Geoffrey Nielson

Ed, how do I go about applying for medical marijuana in my state of Arkansas?
The pains are increasing each day since the injury 07/09/2010.
Prayer and meditation help tremendously. Counseling helps.
Ed, help. I need your help.
Painful solitude in Arkansas,
Geoffrey Nielson